Among several of the recipients to accept the award for "Boyhood" at the London ceremony on Sunday night was the film's lead actor Ellar Coltrane. Filmed intermittently over 12 years, the American coming-of-age drama depicts the childhood and adolescence of a boy growing up with divorced parents in Texas.

"The truth is, it didn't feel like a movie, more like an exercise in collaboration and vulnerability," Coltrane said as he picked up the prize at the 68th British Academy Film Awards.

"To have this movie recognized alongside such grand pieces of art means life itself must be more exciting than we let on," added the 20-year-old actor.

Also collecting awards for "Boyhood" were director Richard Linklater and Patricia Arquette, who won the award for best supporting actress for her role as the boy's mother.

The award for best supporting actor was presented to actor J.K. Simmons for his performance in the 2014 American drama "Whiplash."

'One of the best nights of my life'

Perhaps one of the most hotly anticipated awards of the evening, for best leading actor, was handed to Eddie Redmayne for his portrayal of Stephen Hawking in the British biographical romantic drama "The Theory of Everything."

The 33-year-old actor fought off stiff competition from fellow Brits including Benedict Cumberbatch and Ralph Fiennes.

On receiving the prestigious award, Redmayne said: "I was at the BAFTAs three years ago and I had food poisoning - I redecorated the corridor of the Royal Opera House.

"That was one of the worst nights of my life - this is one of the best nights of my life," he added.

In his acceptance speech Redmayne dedicated his award to three families - his own family for "their amazing faith," his professional family, including "wonder" girl and co-star Felicity Jones, and the Hawking family whom he thanked for "their trust, generosity and their kindness."

"The Theory of Everything" was also awarded the prize for outstanding British film.

Collecting the leading actress award on Sunday evening was Julianne Moore for her performance as Dr. Alice Howland, a woman with Alzheimer's, in the film adaptation of Lisa Genova's 2007 bestselling novel, "Still Alice."

On accepting her award, the five-time Oscar nominated actress thanked "everybody in the Alzheimer's community who were so generous with their time and telling me their experiences."

'Grand Budapest' collection

Checking out of London's Royal Opera House with the most prizes was Wes Anderson's "The Grand Budapest Hotel." The comedy collected five awards from its 11 nominations, including one for best original music by French film composer Alexandre Desplat.

Going home empty-handed, however, was historical thriller "The Imitation Game," which failed to win any of its nine nominations.

Artist biopic "Mr. Turner" also failed to win any major awards, though its English writer and director Mike Leigh was presented with a lifetime honor, the British Academy Fellowship.

"Film is like a mirror and shows us who we are - it is sometimes witty and sometimes it is frighteningly clear. The moving image will never be anything without a story and all we need for that is belief," said host Stephen Fry, bringing the UK film world's biggest awards event to a close.

"And no one - not even Kim Jong Un - can stop you," he added, referring to the Sony hacking scandal over the satirical comedy "The Interview" late last year.

The world's film industry is now gearing up for the 87th Oscars ceremony, which will take place in Los Angeles on February 22.

BAFTA winners 2015

BAFTA Fellowship - Mike Leigh
Best film - "Boyhood"
Leading actress - Julianne Moore, "Still Alice"
Leading actor - Eddie Redmayne, "The Theory of Everything"
Director - Richard Linklater, "Boyhood"
Rising star - Jack O'Connell. "71" and "Unbroken"
Costume design - "The Grand Budapest Hotel"
Adapted screenplay - Anthony McCarten, "The Theory of Everything"
Foreign film - "Ida"
Original screenplay - Wes Anderson, "The Grand Budapest Hotel"
Outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer - Stephen Beresford, David Livingstone (writer and producer, "Pride")
Cinematography - Emmanuel Lubezki, "Birdman"
Best supporting actress - Patricia Arquette, "Boyhood"
Supporting actor - J.K. Simmons, "Whiplash"
Special visual effects - "Interstellar" - Paul Franklin, Scott Fisher, Andrew Lockley
Animated film - "The Lego Movie"
Sound - Thomas Curley, Ben Wilkins, Craig Mann, "Whiplash"
Editing - Tom Cross, "Whiplash"
British short animation - "The Bigger Picture" - Chris Hees, Daisy Jacobs and Jennifer Majka
British short film - "Boogaloo and Graham" - Brian J Falconer, Michael Lennox, Ronan Blaney
Production design - Adam Stockhausen, Anna Pinnock, "The Grand Budapest Hotel"
Makeup and hair - Frances Hannon, "The Grand Budapest Hotel"
Best documentary - "Citizenfour"
Original music - Alexandre Desplat, "The Grand Budapest Hotel"
Outstanding British film - "The Theory of Everything"